Display apparatus



Dec. 'Z 1926. 1,609,751 l G. B. GALLAscH DI SPLAY APPARATUS Filed July l5 1.925

(35 ln/vento@ W gw' /a'a mmm,

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENTY OFFICE.

GEORGE B. GALLASCH, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BA'USCH & LOMB 0P- TICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEWn YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

D'IASPLAY APPARATUS Application filed July 415, 1925. Serial No.743,738.

The present invention relatesv to a dising moisture thereto, produced from any play apparatus, and has for one object to provide improved means by which a normally invisible mark or markings on a transparent article may be rendered visible when desired. 4 o

More particularly the invention has for its objcet to provide an improved Vaporizing device for supplying moisture to a lens or other polished glass or transparent article on which has been placed a normally invisible mark or markings, such as a trademark or the name of the maker of the goods which is so applied as to be quickly rendered visible by the application of moisture or vapor thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined vaporizing and illumi nating device for displaying normally invisible markings of the articles, in which the illuminating means is preferably employed for vaporizing a suitable liquid in a container with which said illuminating means is associated.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a device embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken centrally through the .container shownin Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation through the base of the container taken at a right angle to the section shown in Figure 2, and

Figure 4l illustrates a lens showing a normally invisible mark as it appears when rendered visible upon the moisture thereto.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

rfhe present invention is designed particularly for use in identifying the type, grade, name of maker, or other characteristics of transparent articles, such as ophthalmic lenses on which invisible markings have been placed by -any suitable method, and which will be readily developed and rendered visible upon applyr application I of suitable liquid, preferably from water.

Referring to the drawings, represents a casing or container for holding a supply of liquid and the necessary means for eva-porating the same. The container is` preferably of a tapering construction having an enlarged base terminating in an annular tlange'll whereby it is prevented from being easily overturned. A pad 12 of relatively soft material is secured to the bottom of the container to prevent marring of the surfaces upon which the base is adapted to rest. The upper end of the container is preferably considerably reduced in diameter and is provided with a ring 18 of soft rubber or other suitable material for receiving the article to be displayed, such as the ophthalmic lens indicated at 14, having any desired normally invisible mark or markings 15 on one of its surfaces, preferably the concave surface 16 thereof. The article is shown in display position in Figure 2 over an opening 17 of the ring 13 which is grooved to receive the inwardly extending flange 18 of the container. The container at this point isI preferablyinclined with respect to its vertical aXis to facilitate viewing the article when the container is supported in elevated position, as

when used on counters or show cases in stores handling optical goods of the character shown.

The container is provided with a liquid holding chamber 18 in which a supply of suitable liquid 19 is shown, preferably water.

.The container is provided with a spout 20 through Vwhich the liquid holding chamber is filled, the spout being preferably provided witli a hinged cover 21 normally held tightly closed by a spring 22 in a well known manner.

The bottom of the liquid holding chamber comprises a transverse wall 23 spaced above the bottom of the container having an opening 24through which is projected a tubular .member 25 having an annular flange- 26 preferably extended beneath the wall and il U forming therewith a liquid tight joint I through the use of v4a suitable cement 26a interposed between the flange and wall.

lThe tubular member is supported by a clamping ring 27 secured to s aid transverse wall by screws 2854s shown in Flgure ral A Wick 29 surrounds the tubular member beineh extended-preferably the `full length ol the latter with its lower end disposed Within the liquid holding chamber.

A combined' heating and illuminating ele-V ment 30 is disposed Within the tubular member for both supplying heat to vaporize the liquid absorbed by the Wick and light for illuminating the moist-ure covered portion :3l ot the article, whereby to render visible the normally Yinvisible mark or markings 15 thereon. The heating element is preterably i in the torni of an electric lamp screwe'dinto a socket 32 removably supported in the bottom of the container in any suitable manner, as by a yieldable bar 83,

the' opposite ends' ci which rest upon the upper faces' of a pair oiilugs' or abutments 34 on the inner Wall of the container'. The lamp and the socket, together with the bar 33, can be readily removed from the container as a unitv by rotating the same until the endsV of the' bar are brought to a position at which they .will clear the lugs 34. ,The socket is provided with a. lanip cord 35 for conveniently attaching the device to a current supply source, the cord being extended through a sleeve in the lower Wall of the container, as shown in Figure 3,

A suitable diaphragm plate 37 is interposed between th'e lamp and the lens-holding ring 13, the diaphragm being preferably formed integral with the tubular member 25,v though it may be separate therefrom it desired. rIhe diaphragm is pro'- vided vvith an aperture 88 of a somewhat restricted area 'for diininishing the amount of light projected upon the surface' of the article containing the markings to be dis'- played whereby to avoid a. blinding light, and in this connection the lamp is preferably of the frosted type to 'further reduce the. degree of illumination.

The upper end oi.z the bulb` is preferably made to engage the inner 'lace o't' the diaphragm and is held iirnily against the same through the action o'l the spring bar 33 whereby the lamp and the socket are rigidly held centrally of the container.

1While I have shovvn they tubular member formed separately from the transverse Wall it may, if desired, be formed inte"- gral therewith andthe opening in the top the" container' made' large enough to permit the wink yto be inserted downwardly upoiimsaid tubular member. Furthermore, it will' be understood that' theiinvention is not' liniited tothe details of constructin shown as different modifications thereof bei devised ivithin ythe scope ofthe pnded claims?.v j

l. In a device of the class described, a container having liquid` holding chamber provided with intended tube'like portion open at its upper end and arranged to receive an article having normally invisible markings adapted to be rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, and means within the chamber adapted to vaporize the liquid to permit it to pass upwardly through said opening.

2. In a device of the class described, a container having a supply of liquid and provided vvith an apertured portion for receiving an article having normally invisible markings adapted to be rendered distinct upon they application of moist-ure thereto, said article' being adapted to substantially close the aperture and an illuminating element Within the container adapted to both vaporize the liquid and illuminate the article` Y, Y Y

In` a' device vof theV class described, a container having a liquid holding chamber provided ivith Van ap'ertured portion for receiving an article having norn'ia'lly invisible markings adapted to be rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, a xvick Within' the chamber, and heating means iioi1 vaporizing the liquid absorbed by the wick, the vapor being adapted to pass upwardly through said apertured portion and to be deposited upon said article.

4. Iii a device of the class described, a container for holding a supply of liquid having an upst-anding portion provided with opening over which an article is adapted to be disposed having normally invisible markings adapted to be rendered distinct uponthe application oit moisture thereto, a wick project-ing 'nto the container and adapted to extend into the liquid, and a heating element Within the Wick for vaporizing the liquid absorbed thereby.

5. In a device of the class described, a container for holding a supply of liquid having an upstan'ding portion provided with an opening over which an article is adapted to be disposed having normally invisible markings adapted to be rendered dis inet upon the application of moisture tli'ei` to, a holler1 wick projecting int-o the container `with its loiver end extended into the liquid, an illuminating element disposed Within the Wick for vaporizing the liquid absorbed thereby and for illuminating the markings a diaphragm for restricting the'light rays projected upon the article.

G. In a device of the class described, a conta-inerfor holdingly a supplyof liquid having aiiuup'standing porti-on provided with an opening over which a transparent article is adapted' tok bedisfpo'sed having normal-ly invisible"markings rendered visible upon the application nioistuetheret-o, a Wick With` in the container projecting into the liquid,

illuminating element wi- -..izi the container adapted to both illuminate said article and to vapoi-iiz'e'tli'e'liquid absorbed by the-- xvic'll,

tainer for holding a supply of liquid having an upstanding portion provided with an opening over Which an article is adapted to be disposedhaving` normally invisible markings rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, a hollo'a1 Wick projecting into the container `with its lower end disposed Within the liquid, a tubular member `Within the Wick for supporting the same,

and a heating element Within the tubular member adapted to heatv the latter to vaporize the liquid absorbed by the wick.

8. In a device of the class described, a con'- tainer for holding a supply of Vliquid having an upstanding portion provided with an opening over which an article is adapted to be disposed having normally invisible markings rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, a hollow Wick projecting into the container With its lower end disposed Within the liquid, a tubular member Within the Wick for supporting the same, an electric lamp Within the tubular member adapted to both heat the latter to vaporize the liquid absorbed by the Wick and to illuminate the markings of said article. i

9. In a device of the class described, acontainer having an opening over Which an article is adapted to be disposed having normally invisible markings rendered distinct by `the application of moisture thereto7 a trans-` verse Wall adjacent the bottom of the container having an opening therethrough, an upstanding tubular member supported by said Wall, a Wick associated with the tubular member and adapted to extend into a supply of liquid carried by the container, and an electric lamp and socket therefor disposed Within the container and adapted to be removed through the bottom thereof, the lamp being arranged to project into the tubular j member and to vaporize the liquid absorbed by the Wick.

l0. In a device of the class described, a container having an opening over Which an article is adapted to be disposed having normally invisible markings rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, a transverse Wall spaced above the bottom of the container, a tubular member projecting upwardly into the container from said wall and forming With the latter a liquid tight joint, a Wick surrounding the tubular member and having its lower end disposed Within asupply of liquid carried by the con! tainer, an electric lamp and socket, the former being disposed Within the tubular member and the latter Within thel bottom ofthe container, spaced lugs upon the inner Wall ofV the container adjacent the bottom thereof, and a supporting memberfor the lamp and socket, the opposite ends of which are adapted to rest upon said lugs.

l1. n a device of the class described, a

Wall, means for clamping said flange upon the the Wall, a Wick surrounding the tubular member and having its'lotver end projecting into a supply yof liquid carried by the container, and a heating element disposed within the tubular member.

l2. In a device of theclass described, a container having a liquid holding chamber provided with an opening at its upper end, the opening being adapted to be substantially closed by an article having a normally invisible marking arranged to be rendered dis.- tinct upon the application of moisture thereto, and a heating element Within said chamber in spaced relation to the liquid adapted to vaporize the latter.

13. In a device of the class described,

container having a liquid holding chamber from which extends a tube like portion open at its upper end, a member of relatively soft material' upon said end arranged ,to receive an, article having-a normally invisible mark adapted to be rendered distinct upon the application of moisture thereto, and

means Within said chamber adapted to vaporize the liquid to permit it to pass upwardly through said opening in contact With said article. j

GEORGE B. GALLASCH.

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